Former Ukraine PM Tymoshenko Out of Prison Soon

An undated file picture made available on 27 April 2012 shows Yulia Tymoshenko showing her bruises, from alleged beatings by prison guards, in Kachanivska prison in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo by BGNES.

Ukrainian Parliament voted to free ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from prison by decriminalizing the article in the criminal procedural code under which she was convicted.

A constitutional majority of 310 lawmakers voted for the measure, the KyivPost reprorts.

Still the legislation requires the signature of President Yanukovych within 15 days, before Tymoshenko can be released.

The bill that parliament passed included other articles of the criminal procedural code that were decriminalized.

Batkivshchyna Party lawmaker Oleksandr Turchynov, a close ally of Tymoshenko and her former deputy prime minister, said the articles were not cancelled but "are being brought in line with European legislation" in accordance with recommendations from multiple international institutions, the KyivPost said.

Tymoshenko has been in prison since August 2011 and was convicted for abuse of office stemming from a gas deal she brokered two years earlier with Russia.

Tymoshenko's lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, said that within 10 days after the law comes into effect the prosecutor general must file a petition in court to release her. Then the court must free her since there are no legal reasons to keep her behind bars anymore.

Once free, Tymoshenko will be able to run for political office again because she will have no criminal record.